Digitalization of Business Management: Challenges and Roles of Managers

Abstract

Regardless of advances in the digital economy, there is an ongoing discussion about the nature of business management digitalization and approaches to its implementation. The paper considers digitalization of management as a process of transition to data-driven management decision-making. Emphasis is placed on one of the reasons highlighted by researchers for the failure of this process: the removal of managers from digitalization, which is seen as a mission of the company’s IT service. Taking into account this problem, the tasks of digitalization of management that require the involvement of managers are identified. It is shown how the role of managers changes from information consumers to customers and task setters. This requires new competencies of managers and their involvement in the digitalization process. Possible approaches to digitalization of management in relation to the highlighted problems are illustrated by examples from the practice of Russian business.